Thursday, April 2, 2009



We reported to surgery at 5:15 am today. After getting all prepped, meeting all the doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, etc. we met with Marykate's main surgeon about 7:30 am for final consultation. She immediately told us of new developments that showed up on the scans taken the night before. First, the tumor did not shrink with chemo, and seemed to be invading the brachial plexus (middle of the shoulder where the nerves and arteries are). This means that a limb salvage surgery will not happen, and she will have the amputation. Also, the area where the original tumor was radiated, on the chest wall, appeared to have changed from previous scans. After consultation with a few other doctors, they decided that that area should be removed as well. In order to do this, a thorasic (chest) surgeon would need to be involved as well, and the operation would have to be postponed until the main surgeon, the thorasic surgeon and the plastic surgeon could reschedule to a common date. We are waiting to see when Marykate's surgery will be rescheduled.

Mark & Julie